Deep Creek lake was recently featured in Energy Portals most recent review of the best places for kayaking and canoeing in Maryland.
Maryland, with its diverse waterways, offers a plethora of fantastic locations for kayaking and canoeing enthusiasts. From serene rivers and tranquil lakes to picturesque coastal areas, the state provides ample opportunities for paddlers of all skill levels. This article explores some of the best places for kayaking or canoeing in Maryland, highlighting their unique features and attractions. Whether you seek a peaceful escape or an adventurous journey, Maryland’s waterways are sure to provide an unforgettable experience.
Deep Creek Lake, nestled in the western part of Maryland, is the state’s largest freshwater lake. Offering over 3,900 acres of crystal-clear water, this picturesque destination is perfect for kayaking and canoeing. Paddlers can enjoy a peaceful journey while surrounded by the stunning beauty of the surrounding mountains and forests. Deep Creek Lake also provides opportunities for fishing, swimming, and other water-based activities.
For 2023, the Maryland Forest Service awarded grant funds totaling $149,325 in match funding for $390,502 in total project costs. Generally the grants cover 50 percent of project cost, with a maximum grant award of $3,500 per department. The grants include federal funding provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
Wildland firefighting projects and purchases that receive awards include personal protective equipment, fire hoses and related equipment, power tools such as chainsaws or leaf blowers, fire engines and pumping units, utility and all-terrain vehicles, and certain types of training.
The Grant for Garrett is as follows
Bittinger Volunteer Fire Department $3,500 ($7,000) Deep Creek Volunteer Fire Company $3,443 ($6,885)Eastern Garrett Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department $3,500 ($7,300)
Kitzmiller Volunteer Fire Department $3,083 ($6,165.88)
This small town in Garrett County has less than 2,000 residents and hosts multiple state parks and lush natural surroundings, providing winter enthusiasts with endless opportunities. At Deep Creek Lake State Park, you can choose from hiking, ice fishing, cross-country skiing, and ice skating to enjoy the over 1,000-acre park. Alternatively, you can slip into your snowshoes to explore the winter wonderland that is Swallow Falls State Park. When temperatures drop, and the snow begins to fall, the three frozen waterfalls inside the park prove to be a breathtaking scene for explorers.
For more adventures in the town, Herrington Manor State Park boasts a chill environment with a 53-acre lake within Garrett State Forest. Meanwhile, Oakland has a rich railway heritage that you can learn about at the Oakland B & O Railroad Museum or the Garrett County Historical Museum. To ensure that you’re close to the action, you can stay at the Garrett Inn, which sits about 7 miles from Swallow Falls State Park.
The Garrett County Department of Public Works – Solid Waste & Recycling Division would like to invite Garrett County residents to participate in Christmas tree recycling at the Garrett County landfill location during January and February.
Trees will be accepted for recycling during the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Monday – Friday, at the landfill location at 3118 Oakland Sang Run Road, Oakland, Maryland.
Christmas tree recycling is available to Garrett County residents free of charge. A residential disposal permit is not required to participate in this program or any other recycling program in Garrett County.
Christmas trees may also be recycled at home by placing cut branches and needles under trees and shrubs as temporary winter mulch — or by chopping them up and adding them to your compost pile.
Please remove all tinsel, garland, and ornaments before recycling Christmas trees at home or the landfill location.
Note, artificial trees are not intended to be recycled.
Remember that a refuse permit is not required to recycle at any of the seven refuse & recycling sites, including the landfill. Additionally, Garrett County businesses are encouraged to recycle at all seven refuse & recycling sites.
Please contact the office at 301-334-7492 or email the Recycling Coordinator, Kimberly Madigan at kmadigan@garrettcounty.org with any questions.
Wisp Resort is set to unveil the season with a lineup of seven exciting trails and a terrain park that includes Squirrel Cage, Sunset Blvd., Happy Camper, Possum, Grouse Way, Boulder Run, and the Central Park Terrain Park.
Join us for the opening weekend, where the winter magic unfolds with the following schedule:
Friday, December 15:
Skiing and snowboarding: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Snow Tubing: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday:
Skiing and snowboarding: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Snow Tubing on Saturday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Snow Tubing on Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Excitement builds with our opening weekend rates:
Online Advance Purchase (Friday through Sunday):
Adults: $89
Juniors (ages 6-12): $69
(Up to a 16% discount off the window rate)
Ticket Window (Friday through Sunday):
Adults: $109
Juniors (ages 6-12): $89
Snow Tubing:
$45 per person
Secure your spot for an unforgettable winter kickoff by purchasing your tickets online in advance. Don’t miss the chance to save and maximize the thrill of the season!
Fishing for smallmouth bass and walleye has been good – cooler water temperatures always get these two fisheries going and they should last through much of the winter. Deep Creek Lake, Prettyboy Reservoir, and the upper Potomac and lower Susquehanna rivers are excellent places to fish for smallmouth bass. Deep Creek Lake, the upper Potomac and the lower Susquehanna hold good populations of walleye. Most anglers like to use root beer-colored tubes and a mix of soft plastic swimbaits, and crankbaits for smallmouth bass; and soft plastic jigs, swimbaits, jerkbaits, and small crankbaits for walleye.
Trout fishing in many of the specialized trout management waters is very good this week for those who enjoy catch-and-release and fly fishing. The preseason stocking of trout will begin soon, so trout anglers should start checking the DNR trout stocking website.
Largemouth bass are beginning to feel the effects of colder water temperatures and are generally holding in depths of six feet or more. with moving even deeper. Structure is a key item to focus on this time of the year. Sunken wood, steep drop-offs, bridge piers, and rocks are all worthy of extra attention when largemouth bass fishing.
Small, slow, and close to the bottom is your mantra when fishing for sluggish largemouth bass in colder waters. Wacky rigged worms worked slow and deliberate near structure is a proven tactic, pickups by largemouth bass will be subtle. Blade lures are a good lure to use in the deepest waters; slow-rolling a spinnerbait across the bottom can also work well. Craw jigs and small crankbaits worked very slowly along the bottom is another good tactic.
Fishing for crappie is good this week, and they can be found schooled up near deep structure. Sunken brush, bridge piers, marina docks, and fallen treetops all fit the bill. Slowly working a small minnow or marabou jig under a slip bobber near the structure usually works well.
The cold winter months and fishing for chain pickerel go hand-in-hand. Anglers are having fun targeting the fish along shoreline sunken wood or deeper wood such as tree stumps in flooded reservoirs. The upper sections of the Bay’s tidal rivers is a great place to find chain pickerel, often near docks, pilings and fallen trees.
Anglers fishing with small minnows and Beetle-Spins will start to encounter yellow perch in the middle to upper sections of the Bay’s tidal rivers and creek. The fish tend to wander farther up the waterways when water temperatures are as cool as they are. When water temperatures dip below 40 degrees they will travel down river to deep holes and channels where they will hold until warming spring temperatures bring on the urge to head upriver to spawn.
At a recent meeting of its Board of Directors, the Property Owners’ Association of Deep Creek Lake (POA) formed a committee to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the lake, which will occur in 2025.
The POA invited representatives from a variety of organizations to participate in this committee, and on Nov. 28, the first meeting of the Deep Creek Lake 100th Anniversary Committee was held. Along with the POA, representatives from the following organizations participated in the meeting: Brookfield Renewable, Deep Creek Watershed Foundation, Garrett County Board of Realtors, Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, Garrett County Government, Garrett County Historical Society, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Deep Creek Lake Yacht Club and the Deep Creek Lake Sailing Association (aka the Turkey Neck Yacht Club).
“We had an extremely productive initial meeting with a lot of enthusiasm for this celebration,” said Committee Chair Chris Nichols, “Just getting this many people and organizations engaged really shows the level of interest in this initiative.”
After the initial introductions, the committee discussed a number of potential projects and events, according to Nichols. One of the first projects discussed was the development of informational kiosks at various places with maps, historical information and personal stories of lake memories.
Plans also included the creation of a commemorative coin, publishing a special commemorative book, commissioning a video and creating a dedicated website to store all of the photos, information and stories gathered for the project.
“One theme that committee members kept bringing up was the importance of engaging with county residents, second homeowners and visitors to help us tell the full story of Deep Creek Lake,” Nichols said. “We’ve already identified a number of other groups to reach out to in support of these projects, especially our local schools. One really great idea was to encourage a ‘Foxfire-style’ initiative where students engage with the family members to record stories of what the lake was like ‘back in the day.’”
Mark your calendars for the enchanting Small Town Christmas celebration in Oakland on December 8th, 9th, and 16th, 2023. Downtown Oakland is set to host an array of delightful, family-friendly activities that capture the essence of the holiday season.
The festivities kick off with a mesmerizing Light Up Night on Friday, December 8th, at the Oakland B&O Museum. The highlight of the evening is a charming Walking Holiday Light Parade, led by none other than Santa Claus himself, commencing from the Town Parking Lot at 5:30 PM. Everyone is welcome to join this festive stroll, culminating at the B&O Museum for the official tree lighting. This year, there’s a delightful new addition – Santa Paws! Dress up your furry companions in holiday-themed attire and let them be part of the parade. Indulge in complimentary cookies and cocoa courtesy of the Order of the Eastern Star, and treat yourself to a special surprise from Santa. The merriment extends to free sleigh rides for all attendees.
Continuing the jubilation on Saturday, December 9th, is Soup N’ Santa from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Numerous nonprofits will be serving up heartwarming soups (donations appreciated), providing an opportunity to mingle with Santa, engage in kids’ activities, enjoy live music, take sleigh rides, explore local shops with exclusive discounts, and much more. Once again, your furry friends are invited to join in the festive atmosphere and have a memorable encounter with Santa.
In tandem with Oakland’s Great Small Town Christmas Event, the House of Hope presents the Bucks for Hope Drive on Saturday, December 9th, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 NN. Show your support for this noble cause by making cash donations on Second Street in downtown Oakland. While cash donations are preferred, non-perishable food items are also accepted. Originating in 1978 by Chuck Nolan, this food drive has garnered over $65,000 in donations and more than 80 pickup loads of food.
On Saturday, December 16th, immerse yourself in the sweetness of the Cocoa Crawl from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, featuring delectable treats as you wrap up your holiday shopping at select downtown businesses.
And don’t miss out on the Lucky Elf promotion, running through Monday, December 19th. With every $25 spent at participating stores in Oakland, you stand a chance to win a variety of enticing local gifts.
For a comprehensive list of Christmas activities and further details, check out the Town of Oakland, MD Facebook page or visit www.oaklandmd.com. Join us in creating lasting memories and spreading holiday cheer throughout Oakland!
